Idle Words and 
Thoughts. 



.* 



BY 



JOHN N. GILBERT, 
Austin, Texas 



Author of "The Christian Sabbath; or Sabbath of the 
New Covenant" "Through the Garden 
with Jesus." 



THE USRAKY 

CONGRESS, 
Two Gopi« Receive* 

MAR 28 1902 

COPVRteMT ENTftV 

CLASS Ct XXc tec. 



COPY B. 



PREFACE. 



The training and shaping the mind into 
pure channels of thoughts and words 
should be something of great concern to 
every one. 

The mind is formed by and through its 
association with persons or literature. It 
is a sad mistake to allow bad literature to 
enter the home; it poisons the minds of 
all who read until there is no room left for 
pure reading or learning. Prom these 
things the idle words and thoughts arise; 
so, also, is the character formed that makes 
beautiful or mars one for life. If you want 
purity in your home and life, be careful 
what you read or whom you associate with. 
Paul says, to the pure all things become 
pure. It is impossible to have a pure 
mind when it is fed on things impure. If 
you would be pure, let your conversation be 
chaste, your reading pure, your thoughts 
will be pure, your heart will be pure; so, 
also, then your words will be pure. It is 
dear schooling to read novels or story pa- 
pers for pastime or pleasure. No one can 
do so and have a pure mind. No one can 
read a good book without good coming 
from the reading. No one can associate 



3 



with a pure Christian character without be- 
ing benefited by its influence. There is no 
use in praying God to keep your children 
when you allow them to run at will, and 
with whom they will. Maybe, while you 
are praying for them they are out in the 
alley or street, taking lessons of lust and 
profanity from others. Better take the 
child with you when you pray; then keep 
your eyes open; you help God answer your 
prayer. 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things 
are true, whatsoever things are honest, 
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever 
things are pure, whatsoever things are 
lovely, whatsoever things are of good re- 
port; if there be any virtue, if there be any 
praise, think on these things." — Paul. 

For if you would be pure, you must seek 
purity. If you would be clean, you must 
not indulge in filthiness or foolish talking. 

If you would know more of heaven, you 
must think on heavenly things. 

If you would have a pure mind, let your 
idle words and thoughts he a communion with 
your Lord and Master. He will give you a 
pure reward. 

John N. Gilbert. 



4 



He Is Able. 

He is able to do exceeding abundantly 
above all that we ask or think. 

According to the Power that worheth in 
us. — Ephesians, 3: 20. 

If we will let Him. 



5 



For it is Christ that worketh in you to 
will and to do. 

If you will let Him. 



6 



God is faithful, Who will not suffer you 
to be tempted above that ye are able; 

But will with the temptation also make 
a way of escape. 

That ye may be able to bear it.—l Cor. 
10:13. 

Just like Him. 



7 



Be of good cheer, I have overcome the 
world.— John 16: 33. 

The abiding Christ in you is your 
strength. 

Does He Abide? 



6 



In that He Himself hath suffered, being 
tempted. He is able to succor them that 
are tempted. — Heb. 12:18. 

Today. 



9 



In His humanity He suffered. Being 
touched with our infirmities, was in all 
points tempted like as we, yet without sin. 

So we can come boldly and find grace 
in time of need. — Heb. 4: 16. 



10 



Now unto Him that is able to keep you 
from falling, and to present you faultless 
before the presence of His glory with ex- 
ceeding joy. — Jude 24. 

If you will let Him. 

Trust Him. 

He will keep you. 



ii 



Are you able to drink of the cup that I 
shall drink of, and be baptized with the 
baptism that I am baptized with? — Matt. 
20:22. 

We Are. 

How many are able to give that answer? 
For the drinking of that cup led to the 
Cross. Cross means death. You must 
have this baptism. 



12 



For the great day of His wrath has 
come. And toho shall be able to stand? — 
Kev. 6:17. 

They that have clean hands and a pure 
heart. The redeemed of the Lord shall 
stand. 

Be There. 



13 



Heaven is a place for God's children. 
Skeptics say there will be few people that 
go there, but Christ will be able to fill His 
mansion with a pure people, even if He has 
to go to the cradle to get them. 

Except ye become as a little child ye 
shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 



14 



For God is able of these stones to raise 
up children unto Abraham. — Matt. 3 : 9. 

If parents will not raise their children 
for God, as Hie has intended, then God in 
His mercy will give them a place in His 
Kingdom. 

If grown people will not serve Him, or 
go there, God will take the little ones 
before they have been corrupted by a life 
of sin. 



15 



He was able to take seven loaves and a 
few little fishes and feed 4,000 men, besides 
the women.— Matt. 15:34-38. 

So when your soul hungers, He is able 
to satisfy its longings, for He satisfietk the 
hungry soul with goodness. — Psa. 107:9. 

He is able to do more than we ask or 
think. Let Him. 



16 



Have faith in God.— Mark 11:22. 

I have the faith of God. I live by the 
faith of the Son of God.— Gal. 2: 20. 

Through faith the deep things of God 
are manifested. — 1 Cor. 2:10-13. 



17 



"Lord, what shall this man do?" (The 
devil wants us to look at the other fellow.) 
"What is that to thee? Follow thou Me." 
So many stop to ask that question. 



18 



The Son of Man shall come. And then 
He shall reward every man according to 
his works.— Matt. 16:27. 

He gave authority to His servants. And 
to every man Ms work. And said, Watch. 
Are you watching? — Mark 13:34. 



19 



"Thy will be done" means the coming 
into our lives of a round of responsibilities, 
the highest energy of the universe. A will 
that knows * no hard task, makes no mis- 
takes and is moved by love. 

Strange that every heart does not 
breathe such a petition. 



20 



The need of the second work in us is, 
the Lord looks at us internally. He sees 
the inner man, which is His abiding-place. 
Hence all carnal desires must be removed 
before the new man in Christ is perfected. 



21 



Why the second blessing? Does not 
God do a perfect work in the first? Yes, 
and also in the second. Did not Christ do 
a perfect work in His first coming? Yet we 
look to His second coming. 



22 



"The husbandman that laboreth must be 
first partaker of the fruits." — 2 Tim. 2:6. 

He must first be sanctified before he can 
preach or teach sanctification. 



23 



Many say, "We are not worthy," and 
repeat the publican's prayer before he was 
justified, or call themselves worms of the 
dust to show their humbleness. But God 
says: "What God hath cleansed, that call 
not thou common [nor unclean]." (Acts 
10:15.) 

"Ye are clean, ye are sons," does not de 
prive me of humility. 



24 



THE OHEIST MIND AND HOW TO AT- 
TAIN IT. 

I am often surprised as well as pained 
at the expressions of Christians in regard 
to the privilege they have in the Lord Je- 
sus Christ, They choose a very low plane 
on which to live the Christ life. Some nev- 
er get higher than the humility of the pub- 
lican, which was that of a sinner before 
justification. Now, why should I stop at 
that kind of humility when it comes from 
a guilty condemnation and fear? But when 
our Lord has forgiven us and made us a 
divine heir, a son of God, He has just then 
created in us the heart that is capable of 
true humility and meekness. The true child 
will boldly declare what the Lord has done 
for him. Yet he is humble, for he realizes 
that it is through the blood of Jesus that 
the Christ life has come to his soul, with 
privileges so many and so great that he in 
his meekness cries out, Abba, Father! The:i 
in his gratitude for his new relationship 
to God he will obey God in His commands, 

25 



and the higher he goes in his privilege, 
the greater will be his joy, until his heart 
will long for the greatest privilege that the 
Master has in store for him, even to the 
Image of our divine Lord, and also a par- 
taker of the divine nature and to be armed 
with the Divine Mind; and as he loves God 
he will love God's Word, that has been 
given to us that we may know God's ways 
and God's will toward us. 

1 Peter 4, first verse: "Forasmuch then 
as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, 
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; 
for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath 
ceased from sin." 



2b 



THE CHKIST MIND. 

"Christ hath suffered for us in the 
flesh," and if we would be like Him, we also 
must suffer in the flesh, that we may cease 
from sin, that is from all lusts and worldly 
desires, which lead away from God. Then 
He says: "Arm yourselves with the same 
mind, for he that hath suffered in the flesh 
[dead to self] hath ceased from sin." Arm 
yourselves with the same mind, the mind 
of Christ. This is our privilege, to not only 
have His mind, but to live without sin; and 
be free from sin, that we may have His mind 
in us. With a love like His for our fellow- 
man, with a yearning after lost souls like 
His, with the same desire to reach out a 
helping hand to those that are lost or fallen 
and to those who are in distress, to speak 
the words of Christ to them. The mind of 
Christ is to do the things Christ would do 
if He were here, and do the things that 
would please Him, to go where Christ 
would go and go to such places only, and 
under the same circumstances, always man- 

27 



ifesting His love for others, that His life 
may shine through us as His disciples. 
"That we no longer should live the rest of 
our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, 
but to the will of God." 

For in Him we live and move and have 
our being. "And every man that hath this 
hope in him purifieth himself, even as He 
is pure/' — 1 John 3:3. 

"For who hath known the mind of the 
Lord, that He may instruct hini?" 

"But we have the mind of Christ." — 
Boni. 3:16. 

A pure heart will produce pure thoughts 
and pure thoughts will produce the mind 
of Christ, not in vastness or greatness, but 
in purity and desire. 

"Heirs of God and joint-heirs with 
Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, 
that we may be glorified together." — Bom. 
8:17. 

Are we willing to suffer shame for His 
name? Are we willing to work for Him, 
and have our name left out? 



2S 



Think it not strange when you are de- 
serted by your friends or spoken evil of on 
account of your testimony for what the 
Lord has done for you. You will be left 
alone; you will have to taste the vinegar 
and gall. (Matt. 27:34.) 

Jesus said they would do it. (Luke 21 : 
16, 17.) 



29 



Make no compromise. Testify up to 
the light you have. Let your Christian 
character be that of sweetness of temper, 
but be firm for the Master; patient, loving, 
persevering, ti*at His grace may shine 
through you. 



30 



An heir of God. Yet complaining and 
repining. If you suffer persecution or 
affliction or trials, don't murmur or quarrel 
at God. Consider the suffering of His Son 
for you. Then turn to Him for comfort. 
He will turn them to sweetness. 

"For God, Who commanded the light to 
shine out of darkness, hath shined in our 
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 
—2 Cor. 4:6. 

Does the image of Christ shine through 
your face? 



31 

I $ 

I Kb:-* 

I 

I 

! 



"He that saith he abideth in Him ought 
himself also so to walk, even as He 
walked."— 1 John 2:6. 

Herein is our love made perfect that we 
may have boldness in the day of judgment 

Because as He is, so AKE WE IN THIS 
WOELD. This is a greater privilege than 
being a worm of the dust. 



32 



God loves a manly child, one that will 
obey and come to Him for instruction with- 
out fear. 

He gave His Son to die that He might 
raise a family of children perfected in love 
and without fear that they may be one. 

"I in them, and Thou in Me. That they 
may be made perfect in one." 

A perfect child. 

A perfect love. 

A perfect harmony in and through 
Christ. 



33 



Why should I fear to go to such a Fath- 
er for service? 

Hear the Savior as He talks to the 
Father: 

"I pray for them: I pray no^ for the 
world, but for them which Thou hast given 
Me; for they are Thine." — John 17:9. 

Oh, how He loved us! Some say these 
were not converted; if not, where do they 
belong? 



34 



Idle thoughts and idle words — what is 
their import, their mission, and whither do 
they lead? What can an idle word do when 
spoken with harmful intent? Idle words, spok- 
en with evil intent, wound deeper than 
the sword of anger; yet the words often 
cause the sword to be drawn. They are the 
slime and venom of the serpent. Blasting 
character as he crawls, he enters the heart 
of innocence and purity, it withers and dies, 
beauty of character falls before it; it robs 
the home of its happiness and sweetness. 
Oh, the insinuation of an idle word spoken 
in a whisper in secret! Who hath not felt 
its blighting curse? But who can ever stop 
it? Who could draw its festering sting? 
Who can heal the wound of the Idle Word? 
Will apologies? No, the wound is there 
still. Will retractions? No, its influence 
never comes home to stay; always hurtful, 
on it goes as a ravenous beast. It invades 
the cradle as well as the grave. The home 
as well as the sanctuary is affected by its 



35 



poison. Is this all that can be said of idle 
words? No, the half can never be told. 

The Savior says that every idle word 
that men shall speak, they shall give ac- 
count thereof in the day of judgment. 

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, 
and by iliy words thou shalt be condemned. 
Oh, reader, open your eyes wide. See these 
words of our Lord. Then think, think un- 
til jovl can fathom their meaning, and let 
your words be your justification. 

Solomon says: "Keep thy heart with 
all diligence; for out of it are the issues of 
life." 

"Put away from thee a froward mouth, 
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh 
with a froward mouth. He winketh with 
his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he 
teacheth with his fingers, he deviseth 
mischief continually, he soweth discord. 
Therefore his calamity shall come sudde>i 
ly; suddenly shall he be broken without rem- 
edy. Keep my commandments and live. And 
my law as the apple of thine eye." 



36 



Where are your words and thoughts to- 
day? As you read this do your thoughts 
fiy backward to words uttered in the past 
that have been hurtful to some one, do 
they bring shame and condemnation to 
you, are they filthy or unclean, are they 
true or are they false? As they fall from 
your lips do they hurt your neighbor, and 
above everything else, do they hurt your 
soul? 

Oh, do you cry out, "I am undone! Is 
there a remedy for me?" Yes. "Where?" 
Through Christ and under the blood. He 
will give you a new heart. Cast away from 
you all your transgressions and He will 
give you a new spirit. The heart is where 
all the trouble lies. He says : "Blessed are 
the pure in heart: for they shall see God." 

Pure heart makes pure thoughts. Pure 
thoughts make pure ivords. 

"The cross now covers my sins. The 
past is under the blood." Yes, let the 
transforming hand of Jesus touch you. 
And the words that have been used in idle 



37 



blasphemy will be changed to words of 
praise. You will then hear Him say: "By 
thy words thou art justified." Oh, how 
different are the idle words! I have seen 
their magic touch, felt the consoling influ- 
ence. See the tear of tenderness come to the 
eye of sympathy as some gentle and appar- 
ently idle word was uttered from the lips, 
but like the dew-drops from heaven they 
fell where there were suffering ones and 
sorrowing hearts to receive them. Oh, how 
quickly the drooping flower erected itse]f ! 
Just a hind word, and what a change! Four^ 
tains would be started from eyes long dried 
up, and as tcords of thanks were attempted 
that stuck in the throat and died away in 
a sob, the heart was melted. Words could 
not express what the tears did. Have you 
seen such idle words f I have. Oh, how they 
a re cherished by those who are distressed or 
deserted. Idle words, so cheap. Yet worth 
so mMch. Thoughts behind those words, 
where did they come from? Words that 



38 



were simple commonplace words, but ten- 
der words. 

They came from a heart all purified and 
liled with the abiding Lord and His love 
and sympathy. I have seen these words in 
the bereaved home where hearts were sad 
and lacerated, broken with grief. Oh, 
what a panacea they were! I have seen 
the idle word quiet strife and preserve 
friendship. Yes, by thy words thou art 
justified. Gentle, kind, loving words can 
be used anywhere, everywhere, and will 
bring smiles and gladness wherever used. 
The world could be made better and hap- 
pier if there were more such words used. 

Then again, a heart like that will never 
blush at its thoughts when the Master 
comes. Even when alone, never alone, 
thoughts are pure and upon heavenly 
things. By thy words thou art justified. 



39 



In the morning sow thy seed. In the 
evening withhold not thine hand: for thou 
knowest not whether shall prosper either 
this or that, or whether they both shall be 
alike good. 



40 



"The Son of Man shall send forth H«3 
angels, and they shall gather out of His 
kingdom all things that offend, and theru 
which do iniquity; and shall cast them into 
a furnace of fire. Then shall the righteous 
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of 
their Father."— Matt 13:41, 42, 43. 

Where are you? 



41 



THE SON IN HIS GLORY. 

"And before Him shall be gathered all 
nations; and He shall separate them one 
from another, as a shepherd divideth his 
sheep from the goats. And He shall set the 
sheep on His right hand, bnt the goats on 
the left. 

"Then shall the King say unto them 
on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My 
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for 
you."—%L&tt. 25:32-34. 

Say : Are you a goat ? 



42 




43 



Where the goat will thrive sheep will 
starve. And if you are not a goat, keep off 
the ranch. But go to the pasture and the 
Shepherd will let you in. He knows His 
sheep. If you run with the goats, no ono 
will think that you are a sheep. 



44 



If it were not so lamentable and sad, 
it would be laughable to see how quickly 
and earnestly some professed Christians 
will defend sin, always on the devil's side 
defending sin. Jesus said, "Whosoever 
eommitteth sin is the servant of sin." Yet 
many say, "We can't help but sin." Thu8 
contradicting Jesus when He said, "Whom 
the Son has made free, he is free indeed." 



45 



Many say they are the sons of God. 
Who ever heard of the Son of God committing 
sin? All a mistake, for they had left the 
fold of God and gone over to the goat 
ranch. And he cannot sin as long as His 
Seed, which is Jesus Christ, remaineth in 
him. So he that committeth sin is a sinner, 
and not a Christian. 



46 



Talk about sanctification and you will 
draw from many such remarks as this: 
"He that sayeth he is without sin is a liar." 
Wrongly quoted, and usually cannot tell the 
chapter. God says: "He that committeth 
sin is of the devil" 



47 



What sin does God allow you to com 
mit? Name it. Or what does God ask you 
to do that you cannot do? Think, and say, 
if you can, what commandment God was 
unjust in commanding. 



48 



To those who defend sin : If you would 
see a Christian commit sin, would it not 
destroy your faith in him as a Christian? 
Would you call him a hypocrite? 



49 



Does it not shake your confidence in the 
Christian when he frequents the theatre? 

Do you say: "Would you rob us of all 
pleasure?" No, not by any means; but I 
pity the Christian that goes to the world for 
his pleasure. 



50 



l 
I 



You say: "How about the ball-room? 
Is it wrong to dance?" Yes. "Where 's the 
harm?" It cost John the Baptist his head, 
and since then has cost many a woman her 
virtue. 

When I was young, I would rather 
dance with some other fellow's sister than 
to have some fellow dance with my sister. 

Girls, the boys will think just as much 
of you if you don't dance. 



51 



"How about cards? Progressive eu- 
chre parties, are not they a quiet amuse- 
ment? Where is the harm?" A school 
to make gamblers, and a device that 
gamblers always have used. I learn that 
at the lunatic asylums they use cards to 
amuse their patients, and to help them in a 
pleasant pastime is a good thing; but to see 
a table surrounded by intelligent beings 
whom God has endowed with a bright in- 
tellect capable of the highest attainment 
in worship, in power to do good and to 
make the world better by their lives — I say 
it is lamentable to see them amusing them- 
selves with little pieces of pasteboard with 
spots and pictures on them. 

I don't have these things to amuse me. 
My heart is in the Lord's keeping and it is 
full of joy. 



52 



A TEST. 

Go to a church festival. Look around 
for awhile. Pick out the most enegretic, 
rushing helpers that you see, the ones that 
have the greatest number of witty say- 
nothing words; whose smiles are always 
sweet and never cease; who by their ener- 
gy in these frivolous things (which are 
a stench in the nostrils of God) have 
gained the name of being the greatest 
workers in the church. Ask them to 
pray in public. It might be they would. 
Is it words or heartfelt prayer? Ask them to 
go to some dying one and pray with them ; 
do they tremble, do they go to the dying 
bedside with the same zeal and energy as 
they use around the ice-cream table? 

Many cannot give a testimony. Why? 
Because they have not got anything to say and 
can't talk. Haven't you seen that kind of 
folks, that didn't believe in so much talk? 
They would rather see people live their 
religion (anyhow) and not make so much 
fuss about it. May the Lord help such. How 

53 



long would it take to win the world to Christ 
at the gait they are going ? How many of 
their own set really believe in their Chris- 
tianity? For their devotion is parrot-like, 
merely repetition, lip service. 

It seems that John in his day could see 
the danger in worldly amusements, espe- 
cially to the young people that love the Lord. 
Hear and heed what he says to you: 
"J have written unto you, young men, because 
ye are strong, and the word of God abid- 
eth in you, and ye have overcome the 
wicked one." Plainly these were Chris- 
tians, young people, that John is warning 
against worldly amusements, such as 
theaters, balls, cards, church festivals and 
various entertainments given to catch the 
world with, but it works the other way; the 
world will catch the young Christians that 
will make this comprmnise. 

Hence the danger. 

John said: "Love not the world, 
neither the things that are in the world. If 



54 



any man love the world , the love of the 
Father is not in him" 

lie has gone over to the goat ranch. 

"All that is in the world, the lust of 
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, is not of the 
Father, but is of the world. " 

"The world passeth aioay and the lust 
thereof " Thorn-bushes never will be good 
feed for sheep. 

Conscience, Conscience. 

But the tuill of God abideth forever. 



s 



55 



THE SACRAMENT. 



Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, 
and the cup of devils. Do you do this? 

"For he that eateth and drinketh un- 
worthily eateth and drinketh damnation to 
himself, not discerning the Lord's body." 

"What! Shall we quit taking the sacra- 
ment?" No; quit being a hypocrite. Get 
right with God; then the sacrament will bo 
a blessing to you and not a curse. 



56 



Some people talk like they knew better 
liow to run heaven than God does. God 
says: "None but the pure in heart shall 
see God." 

They say they sin every day and they 
are on the way to heaven. 

When they make the landing they will 
see their mistake. 



57 



The way some defend the devil and 
stick to sin is wonderful. God says ye are 
His workmanship. They say that no man is 
perfect. They certainly think that the 
devil's works are perfect. 

They are willing to give him greater 
credit than they do God. 



56 



"The disciple is not above his master: 
but every one that is perfect shall be as 
his Master." — Luke 6:40. 

"Henceforth I call you not servants; for 
the servant knoweth not what his Lord 
doeth: but I have called you friends; for 
all things that I have heard of My Father 
I have made known unto you. 



59 



"Let this mind be in you, which was also 
in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of 
God, thought it not robbery to be equal 
with God. "— Phil. 2:5, 6. 

A high privilege. 



60 



The reason some people cannot see a 
righteous, perfect man is, they look through 
lustful eyes and a corrupt heart. The 
gauge the} 7 measure by is their own 
standard. 



61 



Why is it that when you mention sancti 
fication or second blessing before some 
Christians, that you can see old carnality 
rise up like the bristles on a dog's back and 
they are ready for a fight? Proving that 
they need a second blessing, the indwelling 
Christ 



62 



CHARITY, CHARITY! 

Words born in heaven. The true mean- 
ing of these heavenly messengers is love, sym- 
pathy and tenderness. Charity rightly be- 
stowed carries with it the great principal 
qualities of our Master's life and purpose. 
Love, mercy and a help for every one. Char- 
ity does not mean some sort of almsgiv- 
ing as a mere duty performed. No, no; 
those wiio so look upon charity defame 
and belittle our Lord. He said, "It is 
better to give than to receive." Charity 
suffereth long and is kind; not selfish, but 
kind. The burdens of others become your 
burden. % The distress of others makes you 
to share it with the distressed. Like our 
Savior; ever bearing about in our bodies 
the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life 
also of Jesus might be made manifest in 
our body. He gave His life for others, was 
long-suffering, was kind. When you give, 
do you do so in the Master's name and with 
a love like His for His creatures, your 



63 



brothers; or do you use it as a boy would 
his stilts, for your own elevation? 

Oh, how much the sweet words of 
charity are abused? How often I have 
seen the white robes of her whom the Mas 
ter has sent trailed in the dust of selfish 
ness, until the very name is looked upon as 
a reproach! I have noticed the work of 
some of the Leagues. They have a charity 
and help department. At their business 
meeting they would read out the names of 
those who were so unfortunate as to need 
assistance, and then, to further humiliate 
their victims and elevate themselves before 
men, would publish reports of what the 
Leaguers had done. 

Charity would not recognize her own 
pure white garments. They had robbed 
heaven of its greatest and purest angel. 
There was no room for Christ in the inn. 

The difference. Another League filled 
with praying young people that worked in 
the name of Jesus. They had a charity 
and help department; at their business 



64 



meeting there were no names read out, noth- 
ing was given to the press for publicity. 
But come with me, we wander off down 
through the dark, we can see that we are 
among houses that denote humble people 
live there. We stop before a door, a light 
shines through the shutters, all is still; a 
knock, the door is gently opened, we step 
inside, and in whisper we hear the words : 
"Doctor sayseverythingmust be quiet" We 
look around. There are two persons nurs 
ing the sick. The room is commonly fur 
nished, a little table holds the medicine. 
There is some delicacy on the table to 
tempt the appetite. Just then the sufferer 
moves, a groan escapes. Noiselessly the 
watchers are at the bed-side. Loving, 
tender hands stoop down and change the 
position of the sufferer and receive a "Thank 
you." Quietly we leave the house. My 
friend says, "What is this?" I tell him: 
"That is our League work. They have 
been caring for the family. The League 
found them, the wife was sick, the hus- 



65 



band could not leave her to work; they 
were helpless and strangers. Our League 
has cared for them near two months, sit- 
ting up with the sick, furnishing their 
food, and paying their rent." We meet the 
pastor of that League, mention what we 
have seen. He tells us that his League 
does most of his work in that line; they 
not only wait upon the sick, but they pray 
with them. Then I say, "Thank God! for the 
ravens are still alive." Charity, charity 
wears her white robes; is long-suffering and 
kind. 

Jesus was there; He owned that League. 

Don't give to anyone your old cast-o?P 
clothing in their distress, and then run 
around telling the neighbors, "I have fixed 
them up, so they can go to church. They ? ve 
got no excuse now." Xo Christ there. 

Another case: The man was taken 
sick, for five months was not able to work. 
The wife had the living to make. It was a 
hardship, but she stood nobly to the work, 
selling a few things from the garden, now 



and then a chicken, a few eggs, but un- 
flinchingly faced the battle. Things were 
getting close in that home, not exactly des- 
titute, but a problem. The man drew a 
pension, $8; rent was $6.50. They had not 
asked for help. A minister and some of 
the brethren met. Mention wasi made of 
the sick person; how he was getting along, 
did he need anything? Wonder if he needs 
any help? The pension was mentioned at 
twice its size. They decided there was no 
danger of their suffering. 

Charity spoke up and said, "Even if the;' 
get that much, how much would it be to 
them after their rent was paid? and he has 
been sick so long, surely they must need 
help." Charity went down to see; talked 
awhile, and with that discernment born of 
God, saw that some things were needed, 
and no means to buy with. Charity's heart 
was touched, tears of sympathy and words 
of kindness — both wept together. Charity 
dropped some money in the wife's hand, 
with a "God bless you; get what you need. 



67 



I '11 come again." Before thanks could be 
offered, she had gone. Charity, charity. 
The kind words were worth more than the 
money. Which was charity, and which had 
Christ in it? 



68 



Many give a nickel's worth of sym- 
pathy and ten dollars' worth of advice. 

Some will say to the woman, "Why 
don't you start a boarding-house? you could 
make money at that," when there is not 
enough money in the house to buy a sun- 
bmnet. Outfits cost something. Don't do 
that. If you can't help, don't talk. Your 
talk might keep others from helping. 



69 



A very sad thing is to see a preach- 
er fighting the second blessing when he 
has no con\erts through his preaching, 
while God honors the work of the fel- 
low they are fighting with converts and 
sanctifications at the same altar. Glory! 



70 



They put me in mind when I was learn- 
ing to use a blacksnake whip. I got mad 
at the mule and sailed in to give it a good 
whipping, but when I caught the lash dou- 
bling around my own ears and face, I 
- stopped and reflected. Moral: I learned 
to use the whip more perfectly. 



71 



Why is it that some ministers are so 
anxious to engage converts and those 
whom the Holy Ghost has sanctified under 
the preaching of another minister in argu 
ment and try to show them they did not 
get it right, and use all their powers to 
confuse them by telling them they had to 
grow into it, when Christ was sweetly 
abiding in them? 



72 



Brother, you are working for the devil 
when you try to trip a young convert. You 
know Jesus said it would be better if a 
millstone were around your neck than for 
you to make one of his little ones fall. 



73 



Some will work harder to trip others 
in their faith, causing them to fall, than 
they will to get a sinner converted, and 
then will rejoice at their downfall with a 
Satanic joy. 



74 



"For whosoever hath, to him shall be 
given, and he shall have more abundance: 
but whosoever hath not, from him shall be 
taken away even that he hath." — Matt, 13:12. 

Use what the Lord gives you for His 
glory and He will give more abundant. 

Eefuse to do this, and He will take 
away that you have. Proof: See dead 
Christians. 



75 



"Who gave Himself for us, that He might 
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good 
tvorJcs. These things speak, and exhort, and 
rebuke with all authority. Let no man de- 
spise thee."— Titus 2:14, 15. 



76 



Witness to what the Lord has done for 
you. Witness to all the light you have re- 
ceived; nothing more, nothing less. 

Tell it, let no man keep you from testi- 
fying. Please God rather than scorning 
men. 



77 



JOY, FULL. 



The words of Jesus to His disciples, 
just before He paid the redemption price 
for us, that they might understand His 
mission that He would soon fulfill, and the 
part and responsibilities resting upon them 
in the plan of salvation as His followers. 
After telling them the things that would 
happen to Him and to tft&m, He said: 
"These things have I spoken unto you, that 
My joy might remain in you, and that your 
joy might be full." — John 15:11. 

"These things." What things? And why 
were those things of so much interest to 
them as to make their joy complete and 
full? And His joy would remain in them. 

He said: "I go to prepare a place for 
you." 

It is a holy place. To be filled with a 
holy people. "If I prepare a place for you, 
J will come again, and receive you to My- 
self, that where I am, there ye may be 
also." 



78 



On the condition that yon obey Him, 
and keep His commandments. 

"He that believeth on Me, the works that 1 
do he shall do, and greater works than these 
he shall do" 

The greatest work is soul-saving. Man is 
the means through which Jesus will work. 
"If you love Me, keep My commandments," 

Suppose you don't keep them. 

"And if y ou ask anything, I will do it " 

If you keep them. "I will pray the Father, 
and He shall give you another Comforter." 
They already had one comforter, but He 
shall give them another comforter. "Even 
the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot 
receive: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth 
with you, and shall be in you." "And shall 
be in you." This proves that Jesus was talk- 
ing to Christians, and they could receive 
the Holy Ghost, Which was the Comforter, 
but the world (sinners) could not receive the 
Holy Ghost, it knows Him not. 

"He that keepeth My commandments, 
he it is that loveth Me." (What if you don't 



79 



keep them ?) "And he that loveth Me shall 
be loved of My Father, and I will love 
him, and will manifest Myself to him." His 
spirit will witness with our spirit that He 
does love us. 

"The Comforter, Which is the Holy 
Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My 
name, He shall teach yon all things." Are 
yon teachable? 

"These things I have spoken to you be- 
ing yet present with you." That when you 
receive the Holy Ghost, He will give you 
an understanding heart, and will teach 
you. "That 'My joy might remain in you, 
and your joy might be full. And that ye 
may know that I am in the Father and ye 
in Me." So He says, every branch in me that 
beareth not fruit He taketh away. 

Those that bear no fruit will never see 
that holy place prepared for them. The 
barren fig tree withered, and every branch 
that beareth fruit the husbandman purg- 
eth; that is, he trims and prunes it, taking 
away all sprouts that would weaken and 
draw sap from the bearing limb, thus giving 



the bearing member every chance to per- 
fect its fruit. 

Now, ye are clean meat for the Master's 
use, and prepared for that holy place pre- 
pared for you. So, "Abide, in Me and bear 
much fruit until I come again. Without Me 
ye can do nothing." 

"If a man abide not in Me, he is cast 
forth as a branch and burned." He does not 
see that holy place. 

"Herein is my Father glorified, that 
ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be My disci- 
ples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have 
I loved you. If ye keep My commandments, 
ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept 
my Father's commandments and abide in 
His love." 

"These things I have spoken unto you, 
that My joy might remain in you, and that 
your joy might be full" 

"I the Lord search the heart. I try the 
reins even to give every man according to 
his ways and according to the fruit of his 
doings." Some will reap a terrible harvest. 



81 



As a partridge sitteth on eggs, and 
hatcheth them not, so he that getteth 
riches and not by right shall leave them in 
the midst of his days, and at his end be a fool. 



82 



"If the wicked restore the pledge, give 
again that he had robbed, walk in the 
statutes of life without committing in- 
iquity, he shall surely live, he shall not 
die." Better make restitution now than af- 
ter awhile. 

Don't try to take it into eternity with 
you. 



83 



Many do not seem to realize that God 
will hold them responsible for the way 
they handle the dollars that He has given 
them. If for every idle word men shall 
utter they must render an account, how 
much more will he have to render an ac- 
count for misspent dollars? 



84 



He has given into your hands means 
to help those who have not been favored 
as you have. Maybe it is through afflic- 
tion. He needs your help. General Booth 
says, "There is the man before you, his poet 
et is empty, his stomach is empty, he does 
not come as a beggar. What are you going 
10 do?" 



85 



"Surely the serpent will bite without 
enchantment; and a babbler is no letter " 
— Eccl. 10:11. 

Think. 



86 



UNTEMPERED MORTAR. 



Some will tell the sinner to just turn 
around and go the other way. You can 
take your sins with you either way you go. 
There is something written on that slate that 
must be wiped off. Jesus said, "Except ye 
repent, ye shall all likewise perish." It 
takes the blood of Christ to clean the slate. 



87 



Some will say, "Just go and be baptized 
and join the Church and that will be all 
right," when the fellow is not within a 
thousand miles of being right. Christ says, 
"Ye must be born again." Better get con- 
verted; then you will know something 
about it. 



8h 



If I did not know God, I would not try 
to tell others where and how to find Him. 
I might make a mistake and send them to 
the wrong place. No one can teach more 
than he knows. God will hold you ac- 
countable. 



89 



GOD'S CALL. 



"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, 
and to all the flock, over the which the 
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to 
feed the church of God, which He hath 
purchased with His own blood." — Acts 
20:28. 

To-day I listened to a sermon from this 
text, to prove infant baptism. We were 
led back through the times and sayings of 
Jesus, of His blessing little children and 
saying, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven"; 
then back to Abraham's time, when God 
had made promises to him; and how in 
the times of the J ews infants were circum- 
cised, which act water baptism has taken 
the place of. So he labored hard for over 
one hour to prove that it was right to bap- 
tize infants and did so to his own satisfac- 
tion. But did not give even a crumb to the 
hungry souls that wanted to learn more of 
the life-giving power of the Lord Jesus, 
and that which the text plainly said the 
overseers should give the flock. Yet there 

90 



was no food given. Feed the flock over 
which the Holy Ghost has made you over- 
seers. Yet we received the whey instead of 
the sincere milk of the Word. He called it 
preaching a strong sermon. But as I 
sat and listened I did not see much of our 
Christ in his sermon. For Christ said to 
Peter: "Lovest thou Me?" Peter said: 
"Thou knowest that I love Thee." He said : 
"Feed My lambs." And to impress the 
need of this food, He repeats the same ques- 
tion. And also the same, "Feed My sheep." 
And again the third time He said to Peter, 
to make it more impressive, "Feed My 
sheep." 

Oh, if our pastors would only do what 
the Master said to Peter, feed the sheep that 
are in their flocks! Oh, how disappointing 
it is to one who w^ants to taste of this heav- 
enly manna, to be fed on doctrine or some- 
thing that is not salvation nor satisfying ! It 
makes my heart sad and sick when I see 
so many sheep straying away for lack of 
food at home. And in their search for the 



91 



bread of life, they have become disap- 
pointed and despondent and are going 
away into the wilderness again, while the 
pastor is trying to prove to the people that 
be is learned and wise as well as an orator 
or an eloquent speaker. Self-laudation 
shows in all their utterances; self more 
than Christ is what they give. Christ has 
said, "I am the bread of life." He said to 
Peter: "Feed My sheep." Of course, he 
wanted Peter to feed them with the bread 
of life, which is Christ. Now, see what 
Peter has to say about it. 

1st Peter 2-4: To the elders, "Feed the 
flock of God, which is among you, taking 
the oversight thereof, not by constraint, 
but willingly; not filthy lucre, but of a ready 
mind; neither as being lords over God's her- 
itage, but being ensamples to the flock." 
Not to lord it over the flock, but to feed 
them. "And when the chief Shepherd shall 
appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory 
that fadeth not away." 

So you see that Peter in obeying the 



92 



Lord is not only feeding His sheep, but is 
also instructing the elders and those who 
have rule over the flock of Jesus Christ, 
the chief Shepherd of all the sheep. He 
said to them, "Humble yourselves under 
the mighty hand of God, that He may ex- 
alt you in due time." How little human- 
ity there is in our pulpits by our shepherds 
of to-day! 

That is the reason there is so much 
barrenness in our churches to-day, and so 
few of God-honored, God-exalted shepherds. 

By their fruits ye may know them. 

"For if these things be in you, and 
abound, they make you that ye shall neither 
be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge 
of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

But he that lacketh these things is 
blind and cannot see afar off, and hath for- 
gotten that he was purged from his old 
sins. 

God calls His anointed to preach, men 
Spirit-filled and fruit-bearers. 

Holiness people use a great deal of 



93 



another kind of untempered mortar. Some 
ministers will say they preach holiness, 
but don't believe in it like I do; they be 
lieve in growing into it. They have no 
witnesses to ever receiving the Holy 
Ghost. 

God does not teach that way. He gives 
no promise for the future. To-day is the 
day of salvation. 



94 



There are a great many holiness peo- 
ple, but not so many holy people. A holy 
people bear much fruit and are a peculiar 
people. The devil tries very hard to coun- 
terfeit true holiness, but it won't bear 
godly fruit. 



95 



A great many altar- workers will try to 
get seekers sanctified when their conse- 
cration is not complete; hence a failure. 
Then they press them to take it by faith. 
"Just trust Him and receive Him by faith 
and testify to your sanctification and He 
will come." God does not authorize any 
such teaching. God offers a present, a per- 
fect and a free salvation. God's gifts 
always come suddenly, when the conse- 
cration is complete, which may take the 
seeker some time to accomplish. Then 
they are on faith ground. Faith spontane- 
ously reaches up; and suddenly the Lord 
whom ye seek will come to His Temple. 
There is no waiting, no time asked for; He 
does not tease His waiting child, but 
comes suddenly to His own. 

God wants skilled workmen to do His 
work; then it will not need so much repair- 
ing. It is less trouble to do the work right, 
although it may take a little longer to do a 
first-class job than to do shoddy work, that 
will have to be gone over again. Don't 



96 



rush the penitent seekers through; let God 
tell them when the work is clone. You 
have no such authority. God will attend 
10 that. 



97 



If you are working among the unsaved 
trying to instruct them how to seek the 
Lord, search your own heart; see if you are 
in the faith or not. If not, stop at once. 
Seek Him until you are; then toorlc. 



I 

! 
j 

I 

When believers are seeking sanctifica- 
tion, and yon are at the altar trying to in- 
struct them, stop and ask yourself the 
question, "Am I in the faith or not?" If you 
are not sure, quit the altar at once. For 
you are using untempered mortar. ) You, 
will do more harm than good. The cause 
has already suffered untold loss by foolish, 
incompetent workmen. Keep out of the 
way. None but the redeemed can teach 
the way to God. 

1 #'r 



I 

| 99 

I L.ofC. 



"Study to shew thyself approved unto 
God, a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
truth."— 2 Tim. 2:13. 

A workman rightly dividing, so that the 
truth may be revealed in all of its beauty 
and rightly understood. This is a key 
that makes a complete harmony in the Word 
of God. 



100 



Some people read their Bible like it 
was a job which was distasteful to them; 
like a bitter dose of medicine, that they 
would hurry through and have done with 
it; never in meditation, never any wiser 
for its reading. 

I wonder how they can read so much, 
and be so ignorant of its teaching. 



101 



"How readest thou?"— Luke 10:26. 

Beader, when you read the Bible, do 
you read it as a mere history, telling of the 
past, something happened long ago; or do 
you see in it a message to you, fresh from 
God? For to-day do you realize that you 
are face to face with God, and it is God 
talking to you; that He is speaking sweet 
words of promise and cheer to you? or is 
His gentle voice giving a warning against 
sinful things, and as He speaks to you of 
His righteousness and your privilege in 
Him, does your heart pant and long for 
His Holy Spirit to dwell and abide in your 
thirsty soul? Do you lay your life side by 
side with His Word as an example? 



102 



THE DESTRUCTION OF ENEMIES. 
"I have pursued mine enemies [sin] and 
overtaken them:" [Aggressive, attacking, 
not waiting to be attacked.] "neither did 
I turn again till they were consumed." 
[Sin destroyed.] "I have wounded them 
that they were not able to rise [victory]: 
they are fallen under my feet." [Sin is un- 
der.]— Psalms 18:37-38. 
This is justification. 



103 



"For Thou hast girded me with strength 
unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under 
me those that rose up against me." [The 
adversary.] "Thou hast also given me the 
necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy 
them that hate me."- Psalms 18:39-40. 

This is sanctiflcation. 



104 



In the gifts of God everything is provided 
for us, that we may do His will. In our 
weakness He is our strength; nothing is 
impossible. Obey Htm. He will lead the 
way and provide the means. 

"For the Lord giveth tvisdom. Out of 
His mouth eometh knowledge and under- 
standing." 



105 



0 



"Unto you is given to know the mystery 
of the kingdom of God: but unto them 
that are without all these things are in 
parables. " — Jesus. 

Have you learned the language of 
Heaven? It is only given to them that 
know Him, so that they can understand, 
their teacher. 



106 



A CURE FOR BLUES. 



I was one time sitting musing. The way 
to me was dark. I conld not see my way 
through. Out of work, out of provisions 
at home. I had been everywhere that I 
could think. No work. I sat and wonder- 
ed what I would do with myself (not sui- 
cide), but what could I do? As I sat there 
I took the Way of Life out of my pocket 
and commenced to read. My eyes fell on 
this little paragraph; I read it; it was like 
a ray of sunshine on my path, It has done 
me so much good. I will send it out as 
Idle Words, hoping that it may live on to 
brighten and cheer others on the way. 

"Put yourself in the hands of God and 
stay there. Have you difficulties? Put 
them in the hands of Him who can man 
age them for you. Have you experiences 
which you cannot fully understand? Put 
them also in the hands of Him who can 
take care of experiences. Is it true that 
you do not know what to do with yourself? 



107 



Give yourself to Jesus, and trust, and not be 
afraid; simply trusting, that is all." 
In the furnace God prove thee, 

Thence to bring thee forth more bright; 
But can never cease to love thee, 
Thou art precious in His sight. 

God is with thee. 
God thine everlasting light. 
"For I Avill give you a mouth and tois- 
dom," — Luke 21:15. 

What a pity that more will not go to 
Him for a wise mouth and stop their fool 
ish prattle. 



108 



There is much time wasted by trying to 
prove the divinity of Jesus Christ. I have 
listened to long and labored sermons to 
congregations that did not have a doubt 
about it, but were hungry for the cruci- 
fied Christ, the Kedeemer, but went away 
as hungry as they were when they came. 
They were disappointed with the sermon. 
Better preach to get people saved. Christ 
will prove His divinity in less time than 
you can. 

God made man and pronounced the 
work good. The devil went to the Garden, 
deceived Eve and sowed evil, and man he- 
came had. Now to restore man. The man 
must have the bad taken out. When the 
bad is taken out, man becomes good and 
God calls the man righteous, which is good. 



109 



Many will say that when God sancti- 
fied, them, He took the temper out No, no ; 
He only showed them how to use it. If I 
cut myself with an axe, I do not take the 
temper out of the axe, but I am more care- 
ful how I use it It was not the axe's fault. 

The temper is the life of the metal. So 
it is with man. When God made man, He 
gave him a temper for use, and the man 
that has no temper does not have much 
vim in him. You notice a real wicked 
man, one that is always in the lead in 
wickedness; put him on the grindstone of 
God's Eternal Truth and let God shape 
him up and turn him loose. Then you will 
see out of that quick-tempered, wicked 
man one of the most persistent, energetic 
Christian workers that you can find. 
Where it was fight before, it is patience 
now. Where it was hatred and profanity, 
it is love and praise. He has found the 
right purpose. 

Personal liberty consists in one mak- 
ing the best citizen possible out of oneself. 
Our high privilege in obeying the laws of 
no 



our country. When man violates law, he 
becomes a criminal under that law, and 
has no right to claim citizenship under 
the law. We have men elected who have 
taken oath to uphold the law, who will 
stand and see the law violated all day on 
the Sabbath by a foreign element that 
have no regard for our institutions; but let 
poor old Cocaine Jim try to run the hood- 
lums away for tormenting him, and they 
will arrest him, "jug" him for misdemean- 
or, but never protect Jim. 

How few they are who can stand criti- 
cism, when it is a very natural thing for 
us to indulge in criticising one another! 
There is nothing in friendly criticism that 
makes one any the less a friend, but there 
is a grace in learning how to bear it. So 
sensitive that we cannot stand it to have 
our little faults talked about, but ever 
ready to exercise that function towards 
others. Let us learn and be willing to 
bear friendly criticism, but don't be mali- 
cious in your criticism. 



ill 



INFLUENCE. 



Your influence, what is it, good or 
bad? You are helping to shape some- 
body's character. Will it prove good, or 
will it be a curse to you and them? Others 
are watching us. Let us be careful how 
we appear in the sight of God to others. 



112 



OAEDS. 

Talking with a leading man in church 
work, etc., he said they played cards at his 
house. I said: "Don't be surprised if your 
children learn to gamble." He said: "I am 
not afraid of that." "Do your neighbors' 
children come and play?" "Yes." "Well," I 
said, "you may pass your children through 
the fire, and they may not get burned, but 
you may be the means of ruining your 
neighbors' children. Look out; you may 
have something to answer for." 

Influence. 



113 



A ministers wife would give testimony 
to sanctification at times. Then at other 
times her testimony was lifeless. I won- 
dered why the oft change until I passed 
the theatre. She came out as I passed. 
It was plain why she could not testify. 

Most men of influence drink the social 
glass. Men of fine business talent, little 
dreaming the influence they are exercis- 
ing over young men that are anxious to be- 
come successful in life, and their drinking 
qualities have become patterns to the 
young as well as their business qualities, 
thereby causing the ruin of many bright 
young men, who have followed their ex- 
ample. 

Influence. 



114 



Is it not strange that saloon-keepers al- 
ways want sober men to keep bar for them? 
This fact alone should keep young men 
from the saloon or acquiring the drink hab- 
it. Other business men prefer sober young 
men in their employ. Young men, if you 
could see the wrecks along the road, you 
would let it alone. 

Influence. 



115 



Paul says: "For meat destroy not the 
work of God, it is good neither to eat flesh 
nor to drink icine, nor anything whereby thy 
brother stunibleth, or is offended, or is made 
weak." 

"If meat make my brother to offend, 
I will eat no flesh while the world stand- 
eth, lest I make my brother to offend." 
Influence. 



116 



Do you buy on the Sabbath day that 
you may feast, and then go to church? 
Some one sees your example. It may be 
the man you buy from. You compel him 
to keep open to satisfy your own selfish- 
ness, causing him to offend, and depriving 
him from church privileges. 

Influence.- 



117 



Some say, "If I don't do anything worse 
than that, I will go to heaven." You seem 
to think you know more about it than the 
Lord. For J esus said the branch that bear 
eth no fruit He taketh away. Don't you 
imagine that the Lord will let you sit still 
in disobedience; you will find that God 
can run heaven without you and His name 
will be honored even if you go to hell. 



118 



"Why call ye me Lord, and do not the 
things I say?" — Jesus. Yet we see a great 
many trying to climb up some other way, 
instead of entering the open door, which 
is Jesus Christ. Enter through the door, 
it is the easiest way. 



119 



Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, 
then we have confidence toward God. And 
what we ask, we receive of Him, because 
we keep His commandments, and do those 
things that please Him. Some say, if they 
do what they think. What we think will 
lead us wrong at times. Find what God 
thinks and do that and you will make no 
mistake. No condemnation. 



120 



"Because thou hast kept the word of My 
patience, I will keep thee from the hour of 
temptation, which shall come upon all the 
world, to try them that dwell upon the 
earth. Behold, I come quickly! Hold that 
fast which thou hast, that no man take thy 
croivn." 



121 



KICHES. 



"They have turned aside quickly out of 
the way which I commanded them." They 
are still disobedient, seeking some other 
way. 

"They have made them a molten calf 
and have worshiped it" They are tvorship- 
ing the golden calf to-day and have been ever 
since Aaron made that calf. Is it not 
strange that calf never got to be a grown 
animal? Never did have enough gold in it 
to satisfy a J ew, always a calf. 

"And have sacrificed thereunto and 
said, These be thy gods." Money is their 
god to-day. They sacrifice unto gold; they 
worship it; never get riches enough to sat- 
isfy; continually growing, but never grown. 

"He that loveth silver shall not be sat- 
isfied with silver; nor he that loveth abun- 
dance, with increase. When goods increase, 
they are increased that eat them, and what 
good is there to the owners thereof, saving 
the beholding of them with their eyes. 



122 



The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, 
whether he eat little or much; but the 
abundance of the rich will not suffer him 
to sleep." — Solomon. 



123 



"He that had gathered much had noth- 
ing over. And he that gathered little had 
no lack." 

"But of me gold tried in the fire, that 
thou niayest be rich; and white raiment, 
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the 
shame of thy nakedness do not appear." 



124 



GOD'S WITNESS TO US. 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with 
our spirit that we are the children of God. 
And if children, then heirs of God, and joint- 
heirs with Christ. If we suffer with Him 
that we may be glorified together, on con- 
dition that we suffer with Him. Just 
think what a soldier would be worth to his 
government that would not be willing to 
help fight its battles or bear its hardships 
or sufferings. It is a warfare and we 
are good soldiers, if we suffer with Him. 
"The sufferings of this present time are not 
worthy to be compared with the glory 
which shall be revealed in us" And we 
know that all things work together for 
good to them that love God; to them who 
are the called according to His purpose. 
For as the gold is tried and refined in the 
fire, so if we endure unto the end and 
suffer with Him, in patience, in trials, 
trusting in Him in every conflict, He in 
turn will make these things work together 
for our good by bringing forth His image 

125 



in us, for we shall be like Him. Then who 
shall separate us from the love of Christ? 
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecu- 
tion, or famine, or mkedness, or peril, or 
sword? 

Nay, in all these things we are more 
than conquerors. Through Him that loved 
vSj more than conquerors. 



126 



More than conqueror. An heir of God, 
a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, made in the 
image of Christ. If we suffer with Him, we 
will be glorified together. So when trials 
are upon you, don't quarrel at God; just 
look up and say, "Drive the nails, Lord; I 
will bear it for Thee. 

Then we can see what John saw. One 
of the elders said to John: "What are these 
which are arrayed in white robes? and 
whence came they?" And John said unto 
him: "Sir, thou knowest." He said to John : 
"These are they which came out of great 
tribulation, and have washed their robes, 
and made them white in the blood of the 
Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne 
of God, and serve Him day and night 
in his temple:" [Yc are the temple.] "and 
He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell 
among them. They shall hlunger no more, 
neither thirst any more; neither shall the 
sun light on them, nor any heat. For the 
Lamb which is in the midst of the throne 
shall feed them, and shall lead them unto 



127 



living fountains of waters: and God shall 
wipe away all tears from their eyes.' 5 

Dear reader, this is your privilege, to 
have this home and to wear the robe made 
white in the blood of the Lamb. The way 
is up through great tribulations. 



128 



REAPING, REJOICING. 

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, 
and then cometh harvest. Behold I say 
unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the 
fields; for they are white and ready to har- 
vest." — Jesus. 

Put in your sickle and reap ; the grain is 
ready and must be gathered. 

"He that reapeth receiveth wages, and 
gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both 
he that soweth and he that reapeth may 
rejoice together." — Jesus. 

One soweth and another reapeth. What 
a beautiful sight when you can see Chris- 
tians at work in this way, all pulling the 
same way for the Lord and for souls! No 
jealousy among them; all doing their best. 
Oh, how God does bless workers of that 
kind! 

He says: "I sent you to reap that on 
which you had bestowed no labor. Other 
men labored and ye are entered into their 
labors." This is the Lord's plan. But how 
sadly it is changed into a contentious rab- 

129 



ble! Instead of working together, they seem 
to want to destroy the fields of grain that 
the Savior has sent them to gather and pay 
them wages throughout eternity. They 
sow tares and discord and then laugh with 
a Satanic laugh when the work of the 
other has failed. I know men that will 
work harder to trip a sanctified person 
than they will to get a sinner converted. 
The devil has the muzzle on that fellow. 



130 



PKECIOUS PEOMISE. 



Let your conversation be without cov- 
etousness, and be content with such things 
as ye have. For He hath said, "I will never 
leave thee, nor forsake thee." Some say they 
never have seen a contented person. Maybe 
not, but I have. You may not know what 
contentment is. It is this: covet nothing; do 
not repine or complain; be satisfied with 
your lot or present condition; if your con- 
dition is not all that you would desire, be 
content to work it up to w^hat you desire. 
Don't covet riches, but keep your heart 
free from covetousness and do what thy 
hands find to do with a willing mind. It 
will make your work light and your heart 
will have no burdens. 

Put your trust in the Lord and He will 
never leave thee. Idleness is not contentment. 

So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is 
my helper, and I will not fear what man 
shall do unto me." I have tested these 
promises, and they have never failed me. 



131 



One -half of the world does not know 
how the other half lives. And they will 
try harder to pry into your secrets than 
they do to serve the Lord, or attend to 
their own business. 



132 



DECEIT. 



People have practiced deceit until they 
have become so adept at it they think they 
can fool God. I once listened to a very 
learned minister talking about purity. He 
said that man was not pure, but Jesus had 
come, died for us, and He was our advo- 
cate before God, and when pleading for us 
He held up the blood and when God looked 
at us it was through the pure blood of Je- 
sus and He (God) thought we were pure. 
As much as to say God had been tricked 
by His own Son and deceived. The blood 
cleanseth us from all sin. 



133 



Where the Holy Ghost is honored, He 
will honor His work by converting and 
sanctifying the people. The church that 
has the least sign of the Holy Ghost is that 
church that has the fewest converts, yet 
gives the greatest number of entertain- 
ments, ice cream, etc. They are busy, but 
dead. A dead mother cannot bring forth liv- 
ing children. 



134 



The fig tree had every appearance of 
doing business at the old stand, but when 
the Savior went after fruit to satisfy His 
hunger, He found nothing. He found nothing 
but show; the tree had gone out of bus- 
iness and was only a delusion and a snare. 



135 



Pride and folly will satisfy the hungry 
soul. The more feathers you put on a wo- 
man's head, the less piety you will And in 
her heart. 

When you see men enjoying vulgar 
talk, laughing and haying what they call 
a good time, let some one that is full of the 
Holy Ghost speak of a loving Christ, and 
they will to a man vote him a bore or a 
"crank." 



138 



Some would-be leaders in the church 
can get along with worldly entertainments 
much better than they do at the prayer- 
meeting here at home. 

The elders could get along better with 
Barabbas than they could with Christ. So 
they hilled Christ. 



137 



One man says that these people that 
are always testifying to the same thing 
drive people away. He says he can't stand 
it to hear them talk, bnt he can tell of sev- 
eral entertainments a week. He don't un- 
derstand the red-hot Christian. He pre- 
fers Barabbas. 



138 



They will try to get one that has regard 
for other people's feelings to lead the League. 
Then they have a real parrot show by giv- 
ing clippings to each one to read. Noth- 
ing original unless it is the folly of the 
leader. But they have shut that "crank" out. 



139 



Strange how some use and study the 
Bible; use it to down somebody in argument, 
search for points, cut off this verse and that 
to make it mean something. Seeking to 
pervert the Scripture, not to find the truth, 
but to dodge it. Better look out. God has 
given you His Word not for a plaything, 
but as a guide to lead you into the city of 
refuge. Be careful. 

Idle words. 



140 



Some will contend that none is perfect. 
They are good, but not perfect They dif- 
fer a little with God. God says be perfect ; 
but we can't; we can be good, but to be per- 
fect is saying too much. I know some good 
people, but they are not perfect. They do 
so-and-so. Did it ever occur to you that 
the imperfection was in you and not in 
them. Sometimes I am glad 7 only have to 
please God to he perfect 



141 



It sounds bad when a woman will say 
no one can live a pure life. Suppose I 
would tell her children that their mother 
was an impure woman. Think it possible 
to offer her any greater insult? No, no; 
but idle words sound badly sometimes. God 
says everyone that hath this hope in 
Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. 
Who knows best, God or the other fellow? 



142 



FOOTPRINTS. 



Step in them. 

Put off concerning the former conver- 
sation, the old man, which is corrupt, ac- 
cording to the deceitful lusts. 

Be renewed in the Spirit of your mind. 

Put on the new man, which after God 
is created in righteousness and true holi- 
ness. Put away lying, speak truth with 
your neighbor, for we are members, one 
of another. 



143 



Neither give place to the devil. (Watch 
your idle words,) Let him that stole steal 
no more. Don't cheat. Let him labor 
with his hands the thing which is good, 
that he may have to give to him that need- 
eth. Let no corrupt communication pro- 
ceed out of your mouth. Grieve not the 
Holy Sprit of God, whereby you are sealed 
unto the day of redemption. 



144 



CHRISTIAN PERFECTION. 



Let all bitterness and wrath and an- 
ger and clamor and evil speaking be put 
away from you with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, 
forgiving one another, even as God for 
Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 



145 



Be followers of God, as dear children, 
And walk in love as Christ also hath loved 
us and hath given Himself for us an offer- 
ing and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- 
smelling savor. The childlike simplicity 
and trust, with an humble, thankful, un- 
complaining spirit, following the Spirit 
wherever He leads, gives victory. 



146 



TO HIM THAT 0 VE BOO ME TH 

are given all the promises of the Word 
of God. To him that overcometh all things 
pertaining to salvation and a perfect life 
in Christ be given; all wisdom, knowledge, 
grace and strength will be given to him 
that overcometh, that they may under- 
stand the deep things of God and to keep 
and do His commandments. "For without 
Me ye can do nothing." If you would over- 
come, you must take Christ as your part- 
ner in every thing; then you can bear much 
fruit and do those things that will honor 
and please Him. "He that endureth to the 
end shall be saved. He that overcometh, 
the same shall be clothed in white rai- 
ment; and I will not blot out his name out 
of the book of life, but I will confess his 
name before my Father and before His 
angels. And I will be with him, even unto 
the end. I will be with him always." Yes; 
all the precious promises in His Word are 
my own. For He has given me His Word, 
and that Word is my guide for this life. 

147 



He says to him that overcometh, he shall 
inherit all things. An heir of God. Oh, 
how great is this promise ! How we should 
strive to live and keep His commandments ! 
He even offers to give us His mind, that 
we may know what the will and the mind 
of the Lord is concerning us. That will 
overcome. He says : "Arm yourselves with 
the same mind." He wants us to have His 
mind, for it is Him that worketh in us to 
will and to do His will. So if we would 
overcome, we must also want this mind of 
our Lord, above and more than everything 
else. Our very soul must hunger and 
thirst for it. We must want it even more 
than life itself. This is what He means 
when He says to him that overcometh: 
"Knock, and it shall be opened unto you; 
ask, and ye shall receive. Behold I stand at 
the door and knock: if any man will open, I 
will come in." This is the "overcometh" 
that crowns every effort with success, dis- 
arms the enemies of our souls, and gives us the 
mind of our Lord, Who overcame him, that 



148 



through our Lord we also might overcome 
and live. So there will not be any obstacle 
in the way, it matters not how great and 
difficult it may seem, but what He will pro- 
vide the way to surmount it when we come 
to it, to him that overcometh. 

As He did the children of Israel at the 
Red Sea. The Red Sea in front, Pharaoh be- 
hind. God said to them, "Go forward." To 
the eye of man it would seem certain de- 
struction. What an obstacle! How could 
they go? What an impossibility! Farther 
than the eye could reach were the wat- 
ers, behind was the enemy that was com- 
ing to destroy them, yet the command 
comes, "Go fortoard!" Can you conceive any- 
thing more impossible? But see, at the 
command, "Go !" Moses steps to the water, 
forward his staff raised. In faith the 
waters begin to roll backward and apart, 
until there lies out before them the way of 
escape. What had seemed to be an un- 
surmountable obstacle was turned into a 
beautiful WAY. Yes, out before them 



149 



lay as far as the eye could see a beautiful 
turnpike with a wall of security on either 
side, and the children of Israel passed oyer 
dry shod, while the way that was deliver- 
ance to them was the destruction of their 
enemies. Yes, to him that overconieth 
there shall be a way opened. 

Isaiah says there shall be a highway 
and a way, and it shall be called the Way 
of Holiness. Nothing unclean shall pass 
over it. No lion shall be there. 

So the very means by which God pro- 
vides salvation for His overcoming chil- 
dren will prove the destruction of His 
enemies. 

But see: after God had delivered them 
and destroyed the enemy and led them to 
a goodly land and told them to go in and 
possess the land as an inheritance. But 
no, they stop at Jordan, a little narrow 
stream. God said, "Go over and possess the 
land." They became fearful of the giants 
that were over there, and murmured, even 
after their deliverance from Pharaoh. 



150 



They doubted God and sinned by refusing 
to go over and possess the land. Now see 
the result of sin. God had prepared the 
nay. The children were on this way that 
led to holiness, where there is no raven- 
ous beast. They sinned. To them the way 
that had been their deliverance now be- 
came their wilderness and their destruction. 
They wandered in the wilderness forty 
years, until they, like Pharaoh, perished. 
There was none that had sinned that en- 
tered that Holy Land. There were only 
Joshua and Caleb that had lived on this 
highway. They were not afraid of the 
giants; they found no lion or ravenous 
beast on the way. They overcame. The 
way that led across the Red Sea also 
crossed Jordan, a beautiful way, and they 
entered the land and did possess it in 
holiness. They overcame. But the fearful 
and unbelieving perished as Pharaoh's 
host, for they became unclean through dis- 
obedience and doubts. 

Nothing unclean shall pass over this 



151 



holy highway. "But to him that overeoni- 
eth will I grant to sit with with Me in My 
throne." Oh! this precious promise reaches 
out to you, it reaches me. Will you not 
go over and possess the land? Our Lord 
will remove every obstacle that appears 
in the way, to him that overcometh. 



152 



WHAT IS YOUE LIFE? 



You know not what will be on the 
morrow. 

. Is it a vapor that appeareth for a little 
time and then vanisheth away? 

Is it a beautiful garden, a vineyard 
where God can come and find nothing but 
the choicest fruits and grapes in great 
clusters for His use? does He have full 
right of way ? is it kept for the Master's use? 
is it His abiding-place, where you can sit 
at His feet and learn from Him the true 
way; where you can lay your life along 
side by side with His Word and feel the as- 
surance of His approval? Is your life one 
of sweet communion continually with 
Him? Are your idle words and thoughts 
moments of pleasure with Him? Or is 
your life a vapor in His sight, a blank 
that has brought no fruit to the Master, 
neither good to any that are hungry or 
thirsty? Has your life been one of failure 
with an influence that has brought bitter- 
ness to the hearts of others instead of 

153 



sweetness? Have you allowed the old 
serpent to enter your Garden of Eden and 
despoil that which was fair and pure and 
in the image of Him that planted it there? 

When He comes to the garden, does He 
find a hedge of thorns and thistles where 
fruit and flowers had grown? does He find 
the serpent instead of the songbirds that 
made music for Him when He came for 
fruit? And where is the gardener that He 
placed in charge of this beautiful pal- 
ace and garden, where He is to live and 
abide? Does the gardener run to meet his 
Lord and Master with a glad welcome, or 
would you run and hide for shame and 
fear? Would your soul be ready for the 
Bridegroom when He comes? Would it 
be a vapor that it would vanish away, or 
would He find therein the Tree of Life 
laden with precious fruit all ripe and gol- 
den, ready for the Master's use? 

Are you satisfied with your life? Are 
you living a life hid in Christ, always bear- 
ing loout in the body the dying of the Lord 



154 



Jesus, that the life also 1 of Jesus might be 
made manifest in our body ? For we which 
live are always delivered unto death for 
Jesus' sake. That the life also of Jesus 
might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

Are you willing to bear the reproach 
that fell on Him? endure the shame? per- 
secuted and reviled, left alone and scorned 
by those who have been your friendsi? 
Could you wear the mark of Christ as He 
did when the mob was trying Him for 
His life? Could you in meekness say no 
word of defense or murmur against your 
enemies when falsely accused and con- 
demned? And yet He, the blessed Son of 
God, did all this and more for you. 

What is your life worth to you? What 
do you value your life at? Do you get out 
of your life a real comfort or joy? Has it 
been a benefit to you or a blessing to 
others? Have you a consciousness that 
the world is made better by your living in 
it? Then, as He has done so much for you, 
what is your life worth to Him? How 



155 



much does He value it at? Can you say, or 
even think, or would you dare to place an 
estimate of what your services to Him 
would be? Yet you are not your own. 
You are bought with a price. He put a price 
on your life. Think, if you can, the real 
value that He paid out for you and for your 
life. You that were a slave in sin and dead 
in trespass, He bought you that He might 
set you free. He gave His life for you, that 
He might resurrect and give His life to you, 
to implant His divine nature in you, His 
spirit in you, to teach and direct you; His 
meekness and humility, that it may reflect 
His image and His disposition as you go 
out to help to seek and save the lost. Yes, 
this is why He paid the redemption price 
for you, that He might use you to help 
save and win the world for Him. Are you 
a fruit-bearing branch, a part of Christ? 
Eemember; the branch that beareth no 
fruit He taketh away. What is your life, 
and what will it be when He comes to give 
to every man his reward? 



156 



VICTOR HUGO ON IMMORTALITY. 



"I feel in myself the future life. I am 
like a forest once cut down; the new shoots 
are stronger and livelier than ever. I am 
rising, I know, towards the sky. The sun- 
shine is on my head. The earth gives me 
its generous sap, but heaven lights me 
with the reflection of unknown worlds. You 
say the soul is nothing but the resultant 
of bodily powers. Why, then, is my soul 
more luminous when my bodily powers be- 
gin to fail? Winter is on my head, but 
eternal spring is in my heart. There I 
breathe at this hour the fragrance of the 
lilacs, the violets and the roses as at 
twenty years. The nearer I approach the 
end, the plainer I hear around me the im 
mortal symphonies of the worlds which 
invite me. 

"It is marvelous, yet simple. It is a 
fairy tale and it is a history. For half a 
century I have been writing my thoughts 
in prose and in verse. History, philosophy, 
drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode and 

157 



song — I have tried all. But I feel I have 
not said the thousandth part of what is in 
me. 

"When I go down to the grave I can 
say, like so. many others, I have finished 
my day's work. But I cannot say I have 
finished my life. My day's work will be- 
gin again in the morning. The tomb is not 
a blind alley, it is a thoroughfare. It closes 
on the twilight, it opens with the dawn." 

Yours in Christ, 

JOHN N. GILBERT. 



158 



MAR 2 8 1902 



MAR 28 1902 

iCOP> DEL. TOCAT.0IV. 
aiAR. 28 1902 



APR. 3 1902 



